One thing about short barrel pistols if you are planning on using it as a carry gun for self protection, is they usually need heavier bullets than the longer barrels. Take for instance, the .38 special. A short barrel 38 special needs at a minimun to use a 158 grain bullet as a smaller grain bullet in it will not expand enough and do what it's desigend to do and that's to stop someone. A longer barrel 38 special can go to a smaller grain bullet and get the same done. I'm not very famaliar with the 32 mag, so I couldn't be of help there. Most police departments require that the minimun caliber that they use is 38 special and up from there. I used to work in LE and have been to many shootings and seen results with what different calibers do. I speak from experience on the short snub pistol and lower grain bullets as they just don't get it, but the heavier bullet will.
I wasn't trying to be sarcastic about the 17HMR, only mentioning that it would not be something that you wanted to depend on for protecting your life. I would think one in that caliber would be more or less for plinking with.